FWAA UCF News

The UCF Knights stunned No. 2 BYU, 39-31, in double overtime Saturday at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, earning their first victory over an Associated Press top-five opponent in program history. For handing the previously unbeaten Cougars their first loss of the season, the Knights earned the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 24, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2026 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 8, the weekend of Oct. 24.

The UCF Knights held the nation’s rushing leader to just 25 yards and deployed its own running back for a 206-yard day in a 45-3 home win over No. 15 Oklahoma State. For taking their first win over a top-15 team since 2017 the Knights (5-5) earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week for games the weekend of Nov. 11, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Louisville Cardinals won their third straight game behind a feisty defense that forced eight Wake Forest turnovers in a 48-21 win over the No. 10 Demon Deacons. For posting a 35-point third quarter and pinning down its first win over a top-10 team as an unranked team since 2002, Louisville (5-3) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 29, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Three coaches, players up for Steve Spurrier Award and National Freshman of the Year

Knights win 23rd straight with prime-time defeat of Cincinnati

Knights derail Louisville's BCS title hopes